Show satisfies children, adults

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By Joey Berlin

Originally published 02:25 p.m., April 18, 2008
Updated 02:25 p.m., April 18, 2008

Along with offering a display of acrobatic juggling, dancing stunts and lighting effects, the Tweaksters — described as a “Blue Man Group without the paint” — also see themselves as silent poster children for fitness.

“Our show is nonverbal,” said Julia Snyder, who, along with Regan Patno, composes the Tweaksters duo. “And even though we don’t talk, part of what we like to convey is that, with all the challenges going on right now, with people with their health and wellness, that we hope that the show is a clear indication that being in shape is a lot of fun.

“And we hope that after seeing the show, people will be inspired to get up and move and have a relationship with their body and to view it as a friend.”

When they bring their act to Albert Taylor Hall at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Patno and Snyder will bring a show they’ve found can enthrall both adults and children.

“It’s just sort of a wacky, fun blend of acrobatics and dance, and unique dance ideas, mixed with lots of juggling and creative manipulation and lighting effects,” Patno said.

The show features 18 different routines, involving such props as ping-pong balls, flower pots, galvanized pipes and luminescent ropes. Snyder said the name Tweaksters comes in part from their desire to present things in new, novel ways. She and Patno met while taking juggling lessons, and using their backgrounds in performance art, they created a number of routines over a period of a decade. They’ve been touring for five years.

“Regan and I, it’s kind of funny, because we have very short attention spans,” Snyder said. “Like, we learn a skill, we work with it, we put a routine together, and then we’re like, ‘OK, next.’ I think that’s why the show works is, it really is accumulation. It took us 10 years, so you can imagine how we had to start from scratch, and then we would work with a new prop, and we’d have to ... develop the skill level.”

Snyder said different age groups appreciate the show for different reasons.

“We find that the adults appreciate the skill level that they see,” she said. “And the kids seem to like that it’s visually stunning and it moves really fast, and also there’s a lot of just kind of funny comedy, physical comedy.”

The Tweaksters will perform as part of the Emporia Arts Council’s 2007-08 lineup. Tickets are available at the Arts Center or at the Sweet Granada.